Lubricating oil monitoring and maintenance cap with oil level monitoring system

ABSTRACT

A lubricating oil reservoir has an open end closed by a cap removably coupled to the open end. The cap is formed with a sensor located in the lubricating oil reservoir. The sensor is for sensing the presence of lubricating oil that fills the lubricating oil reservoir to a recommended oil level for providing machine lubrication, and the non-presence of lubricating oil that does not fill the lubricating oil reservoir to the recommended oil level, and a signal apparatus is operatively coupled to the sensor for issuing a first stimulus in response to the sensor sensing the presence of lubricating oil for identifying a normal lubricating oil level condition, and for issuing a second different stimulus in response to the sensor sensing the non-presence of lubricating oil for identifying a low oil level condition.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to lubricating oil reservoirsfor maintaining lubricating oil for providing machine lubrication, totracked vehicles and also to maintenance caps used to cap lubricatingoil reservoirs of rollers of tracked vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A crawler-type or tracked vehicle is normally supported and propelled byan undercarriage assembly having an endless track entrained about adrive roller or sprocket, a front idler roller, a rear idler roller, anda series of track rollers. The drive roller or sprocket is driven by anengine of the work vehicle which, in turn, causes the endless track tobe advanced around each of the front and rear idler rollers as well asthe track rollers to advance the work vehicle.

For an endless track to function properly, it must be properly tensionedaround the several rollers, and the several rollers must be properlymaintained to ensure they roll with the least amount of friction whilesupporting the weight of the vehicle. Tracked vehicles are normallyconsiderably heavy. As a result, the rollers are prone to generatesubstantial frictional heat as they are made to roll as the trackedvehicle advances. Excessive frictional heat in the rollers can lead toroller failure and expensive and time-consuming repair costs. Limitingfrictional heat in rollers is accomplished with a lubricating oil forproviding machine lubrication, and which is applied to and maintained byreservoirs formed in the rollers. The lubricating oil must beperiodically replenished, and periodically replaced to ensure the oilfunctions properly, namely, that it reduces roller friction and drawsand dissipates heat away from the rollers. Proper oil maintenance inrollers is essential for proper operation of the tracked vehicle and tolimit unnecessary and time-consuming roller repairs, and the oil levelsin the rollers must be properly maintained to prevent damage to therollers, which can occur if the oil levels become too low.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the principle of the invention, an apparatus includes alubricating oil reservoir with an open end closed by a cap removablycoupled to the open end, and the cap has a lubricating oil engaging sidethat faces the lubricating oil reservoir and a sensor located in thelubricating oil reservoir. The lubricating oil reservoir is for holdinga volume of lubricating oil for providing machine lubrication, whichsaid volume of lubricating oil is to extend vertically upward into thelubricating oil reservoir in a direction toward the sensor and along andin direct contact with the lubricating oil engaging side of the cap soas to touch the sensor when the volume of lubricating oil is sufficientto fill the lubricating oil reservoir to a recommended oil level, and soas to not touch the sensor when the volume of lubricating oil isinsufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir to the recommendedoil level. The sensor for sensing the presence of lubricating oil inresponse to the sensor touching the volume of lubricating oil in thelubricating oil reservoir when the volume of lubricating oil issufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir to the recommended oillevel, and for sensing the non-presence of lubricating oil in responseto the sensor not touching the volume of lubricating oil in thelubricating oil reservoir when the volume of lubricating oil isinsufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir to the recommendedoil level. A signal apparatus is operatively coupled to the sensor forissuing a first stimulus in response to the sensor sensing the presenceof lubricating oil, and for issuing a second stimulus in response to thesensor sensing the non-presence of lubricating oil. The first stimulusis for identifying a normal lubricating oil level condition, and thesecond stimulus is different from the first stimulus and is foridentifying a low oil level condition. The signal apparatus is anilluminated display for issuing a first state of illumination being thefirst stimulus, and a second different state of illumination being thesecond stimulus. In a preferred embodiment, the lubricating oilreservoir is formed in a roller of a tracked vehicle.

According to the principle of the invention, an apparatus includes alubricating oil reservoir with an open end closed by a cap removablycoupled to the open end, and the cap has an outer side and an opposedlubricating oil engaging side facing into the lubricating oil reservoir,a maintenance port that extends through the cap from the outer side tothe lubricating oil engaging side, and a plug, which is removablycoupled to the maintenance port so as to close the maintenance port. Asensor attached to the plug, and the sensor is located in thelubricating oil reservoir. The lubricating oil reservoir is for holdinga volume of lubricating oil for providing machine lubrication, whichsaid volume of lubricating oil is to extend vertically upward into thelubricating oil reservoir in a direction toward the sensor and the plugand along and in direct contact with the lubricating oil engaging sideof the cap so as to touch the sensor when the volume of lubricating oilis sufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir to a recommended oillevel, and so as to not touch the sensor when the volume of lubricatingoil is insufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir to therecommended oil level. The sensor for sensing the presence oflubricating oil in response to the sensor touching the volume oflubricating oil in the lubricating oil reservoir when the volume oflubricating oil is sufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir tothe recommended oil level, and for sensing the non-presence oflubricating oil in response to the sensor not touching the volume oflubricating oil in the lubricating oil reservoir when the volume oflubricating oil is insufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir tothe recommended oil level. A signal apparatus is operatively coupled tothe sensor for issuing a first stimulus in response to the sensorsensing the presence of lubricating oil, and for issuing a secondstimulus in response to the sensor sensing the non-presence oflubricating oil. The first stimulus is for identifying a normallubricating oil level condition, and the second stimulus is differentfrom the first stimulus and is for identifying a low oil levelcondition. The signal apparatus is an illuminated display for issuing afirst state of illumination being the first stimulus, and a seconddifferent state of illumination being the second stimulus. In apreferred embodiment, the lubricating oil reservoir is formed in aroller of a tracked vehicle.

According to the principle of the invention, an apparatus includes alubricating oil reservoir with an open end closed by a cap removablycoupled to the open end, and the cap has an outer side and an opposedlubricating oil engaging side facing into the lubricating oil reservoir,a maintenance port that extends through the cap from the outer side tothe lubricating oil engaging side, and a plug, which is removablycoupled to the maintenance port so as to close the maintenance port.There is a portable sensor, and an engagement assembly removablycoupling the sensor to the plug. The engagement assembly includes anelement of an engagement pair carried by the plug, and a complementalelement of the engagement pair carried by the sensor. The sensor islocated in the lubricating oil reservoir. The lubricating oil reservoiris for holding a volume of lubricating oil for providing machinelubrication, which said volume of lubricating oil is to extendvertically upward into the lubricating oil reservoir in a directiontoward the sensor and the plug and along and in direct contact with thelubricating oil engaging side of the cap so as to touch the sensor whenthe volume of lubricating oil is sufficient to fill the lubricating oilreservoir to a recommended oil level, and so as to not touch the sensorwhen the volume of lubricating oil is insufficient to fill thelubricating oil reservoir to the recommended oil level. The sensor isfor sensing the presence of lubricating oil in response to the sensortouching the volume of lubricating oil in the lubricating oil reservoirwhen the volume of lubricating oil is sufficient to fill the lubricatingoil reservoir to the recommended oil level, and for sensing thenon-presence of lubricating oil in response to the sensor not touchingthe volume of lubricating oil in the lubricating oil reservoir when thevolume of lubricating oil is insufficient to fill the lubricating oilreservoir to the recommended oil level. A signal apparatus isoperatively coupled to the sensor for issuing a first stimulus inresponse to the sensor sensing the presence of lubricating oil, and forissuing a second stimulus in response to the sensor sensing thenon-presence of lubricating oil. The first stimulus is for identifying anormal lubricating oil level condition, and the second stimulus isdifferent from the first stimulus and is for identifying a low oil levelcondition. The signal apparatus is an illuminated display for issuing afirst state of illumination being the first stimulus, and a seconddifferent state of illumination being the second stimulus. In apreferred embodiment, the lubricating oil reservoir is formed in aroller of a tracked vehicle.

Consistent with the foregoing summary of preferred embodiments, and theensuing detailed description, which are to be taken together, theinvention also contemplates associated apparatus and method embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a highly generalized perspective view of a tracked vehicle;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a track roller of the trackedvehicle of FIG. 1 shown as it would appear formed with an attachable capassembly shown as it would appear installed capping a lubricating oilreservoir of the track roller of the tracked vehicle;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cap assembly of FIG. 2including a cap formed with a lubricating oil maintenance port, agasket, a plug used to open and close the port formed in the cap, and asensor forming a part of an oil level monitoring system;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmented perspective view of the cap of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged section view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a highly generalized functional block diagram of an oil levelmonitoring system constructed and arranged in accordance with theprinciple of the invention;

FIG. 8 is illustrative of an operator display of the oil levelmonitoring system of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a highly generalized block diagram of an alternate embodimentof an oil level monitoring system constructed and arranged in accordancewith the principle of the invention;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, fragmented section view of a cap assemblyincluding a cap formed with a lubricating oil maintenance port, agasket, a plug used to open and close the port formed in the cap, and asensor and a transmitter forming a part of the oil level monitoringsystem of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective section view of the embodiment of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a highly generalized vertical section view of an alternateembodiment of a sensor-plug assembly of an attachable cap assemblyconstructed and arranged in accordance with the principle of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicatecorresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is firstdirected to FIG. 1 in which there is seen a tracked vehicle 20 that isexemplary of a conventional and well-known articulating tractorincluding an operator cab 21 supported by a chassis 22 and which isuseful for drawing cultivating implements for mechanized cultivatingoperations as known in the art. Tracked vehicle 20 has a front orleading end denoted generally at 25 and an opposed rear or trailing enddenoted generally at 26. Rear end 26 is formed with mechanical andhydraulic couplings (not shown) used to operatively couple selectedcultivating implements as is known in the art. Vehicle 20 is formed withtrack assemblies operable for propelling vehicle 20. In the presentembodiment, vehicle 20 is formed with four identical track assembliesincluding left front track assembly 30A, right front track assembly 30B,left rear track assembly 30C, and right rear track assembly 30D, whichare secured to chassis 22 in a known manner. The track assemblies30A-30D are known in the art and are identical and in FIG. 1 only leftfront and left rear track assemblies 30A and 30C are shown in detail forillustrative purposes.

With reference to left front and left rear track assemblies 30A and 30Cdepicted in FIG. 1, each such track assembly 30A and 30C includes anarray of track rollers, including a drive track roller 31, a front idlertrack roller 32, a rear idler track roller 33, and minor idler trackrollers 34 under drive track roller 31 and which are positioned betweenfront and rear idler track rollers 32 and 33, as is known in the art,about which there is entrained an endless track 40. Track rollers 31,32, 33, and 34 are identical in structure but are sized differently inthe example of tracked vehicle 20 depicted in FIG. 1. In tracked vehicle20 illustrated in FIG. 1, drive track roller 31 is larger than front andrear idler track rollers 32 and 33, which are identical in size, andfront and rear idler track rollers 32 and 33 are larger than minor idlertrack rollers 34, which are identical in size. As is known in the art,drive track roller 31 is connected to the engine drive train (not shown)of vehicle 20 and engages endless track 40 to cause translation ofendless track 40 when drive track roller 31 is rotated by the engine. Asendless track 40 rotations, the various idler track rollers are causedto rotate. Drive track roller 31 may have teeth that engage withinrecesses in track 40. Alternatively, track 40 may have teeth that areengaged within recesses in drive track roller 31. In eitherconfiguration, drive track roller 31 can be rotated in either aclockwise or a counterclockwise direction to move vehicle 20 in either aforward direction or a reverse direction. The foregoing brief discussionof track assemblies 30A and 30C applies equally to track assemblies 30Band 30D. Vehicle 20 is driven by endless tracks 40 of the various trackassemblies 30A-30D to advance vehicle 10. The specific construction ofvehicle 20 is not relevant to the present invention, and the presentinvention may be used with any type of vehicle that is propelled using atrack driven by a roller system, like that of vehicle 20.

As is known in the art, the various track rollers of the trackassemblies 30A-30D of tracked vehicle 20 are identical in structure andeach of them has an open end that leads to or otherwise communicateswith a lubricating oil reservoir that maintains a volume of alubricating oil for providing machine lubrication, namely, for providinglubrication to the track roller to reduce track roller friction and todraw and dissipate heat away from the track roller as is known in theart. According to the principle of the invention, each of the trackrollers of each of the track assemblies 30A-30D of tracked vehicle 20 isformed with an attached cap assembly denoted generally at 50 used toclose the open end to the corresponding lubricating oil reservoir. Eachcap assembly 50 is a track roller-attachable unit or assembly. The capassemblies 50 of the tracker rollers of each of the track assemblies30A-30D are identical in structure and are sized appropriately tofacilitate installation onto the open end to the lubricating oilreservoir of the corresponding track roller as described below. As amatter of example, a cap assembly 50 constructed and arranged inaccordance with the principle of the invention will now be discussed inconnection with track roller 31, with the understanding that the ensuingdiscussion of cap assembly 50 applies equally to each of the trackrollers of each of the track assemblies 30A-30D.

In FIG. 2 there is illustrated an enlarged perspective view of trackroller 31 of tracked vehicle 20 of FIG. 1 and cap assembly 50 shown asit would appear installed to track roller 31, namely, applied to andenclosing lubricating oil reservoir 60 of track roller 31 of vehicle 20first illustrated in FIG. 1. As is known in the art, reservoir 60 is tomaintain a volume of a lubricating oil to provide machine lubrication totrack roller 31 to reduce track roller friction and to draw anddissipate heat away from track roller 80 so as to ensure a properoperation of track roller 31. Cap assembly 50 is removably secured orotherwise attached to open end 60A of reservoir 60 closing open end 60Aof reservoir 60 enclosing and sealing the volume of lubricating oil inreservoir 60, and also provides visual access into reservoir 60 forlubricating oil level and quality monitoring purposes.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of cap assembly 50 of FIG. 2,which includes a cap 70 formed with a lubricating oil maintenance port71, a gasket 72, a plug 73 used to open and close port 71 formed in cap70, and a sensor 74 forming a part of an oil level monitoring systemconstructed and arranged in accordance with the principle of theinvention. FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmented perspective view of cap 70of FIG. 4 illustrating a conductive trace 76 formed in cap 70, and FIG.5 is a section view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2 illustrating capassembly 50 applied to reservoir 60.

Referencing FIGS. 2-5 in relevant part, cap 70 is broad and disc-shapedand of substantial construction, and is formed a strong, hard, impactresistant, temperature resistant, chemical resistant, non-conductive,and transparent material or combination of materials. A preferredmaterial is transparent plastic, such as transparent nylon. Cap 70 ispreferably formed integrally, such as by molding, or machining from abillet or other stock work-piece. Cap 70 consists of a sealing body 80,which has an outer side or face 81 and an opposed inner side or face 82that meet at an outer perimeter extremity, which, in the presentembodiment, is characterized by a circular perimeter or parametricflange 85. Sealing body 80 has a substantially uniform thicknessextending between outer and inner faces 81 and 82. In the presentembodiment, sealing body 80 has a thickness extending between outer andinner faces 81 and 82 in a range of approximately 7-9 millimeters.

As best seen in FIG. 5, sealing body 120 bulges outwardly fromparametric flange 85, characterized in that outer and inner faces 81 and82 are convex and concave, respectively, extending from parametricflange 85 to a geometric center of sealing body 80 formed with port 71.Port 71 is formed in sealing body 80 at the geometric center of sealingbody 80 and this embodiment, and port 71 extends through sealing body 80from outer face 81 of sealing body 80 to inner face 82 of sealing body80.

Port 71 is adapted to receive plug 73 to close and seal port 71. Withcontinuing reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, and looking additionally to FIG.6, plug 71 is formed of a strong, hard, impact resistant, temperatureresistant, chemical resistant, and non-conductive material orcombination of materials, such as nylon or other plastic, and consistsof a threaded post 90 having an outer end or extremity 91 formed with abroad, enlarged head 92, and an opposed inner end or extremity 93. Head92 is considered part of, or otherwise an extension of, outer end orextremity 91. A gasket 95 encircles post 90 and is located alongunderside 92A of head 92, and post 90 relates to port 71. Plug 73 ismovable between an open or a detached position detached from and openingport 71 as shown in FIG. 3 so as to provide access therethrough, such asto reservoir 60 depicted in FIG. 5 for lubricating oil replacement andreplenishment purposes, and a closed or an attached position applied toand closing port 71 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Port 71 is inwardlythreaded, and post 90 of plug 73 is correspondingly outwardly threadedbetween outer end 91 and inner end 93. To apply and attach plug 73 toport 71, plug 73 is taken up, such as by hand, and applied inner end 93first to port 71 and is threaded into port 111 through rotation and istightened to secure plug 73 in place tightening underside 92A of head 92directly against outer face 81 of sealing body 80. In the closedposition of plug 73 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, outer end or extremity 91formed with head 92 is juxtaposed relative to the outer side or face 81of cap 70, opposed inner end or extremity 93 is extends into volume 60away from inner side or face 82 of cap 70 and is juxtaposed relative tothe inner side or face 82 of cap 70, and gasket 95 is applied betweenport 71 and head 92 of plug 73 to provide a fluid-impervious sealbetween, one the one hand, port 71 of cap 70 and, on the other hand,head 92 of plug 73. The application of gasket 95 between port 71 andplug 73 is known in the art and provides a fluid-impervious seal betweenport 71 and plug 73 to prevent lubricating oil from leaking through port71 from reservoir 60.

FIG. 5 is a highly generalized representation of reservoir 60 formed intrack roller 31 and which has open end 60A, and this is a conventionaland well-known arrangement in the art of track rollers. Gasket 72 andflange 85 of cap 70 relate to open end 60A to reservoir 60. In theinstallation of cap assembly 50 to reservoir 60, gasket 72 is applied toopen end 60A, and cap 70 is taken up and inner face 82 is directedtoward open end 60A and cap 70 is then moved toward open end 60A so asto apply inner face 82 of sealing body 80 at flange 85 against gasket 72applied to open end 60A to reservoir 60. Flange 85 is then secured inplace to open end 60A closing open end 60A with cap 70, and sealing body80 spans open end 60A of reservoir 60 and gasket 72 is applied betweenopen end 60A of reservoir 60 and flange 85 to provide a fluid-imperviousseal between sealing body 80 and open end 60A. With cap assembly 50 soinstalled as is known in the art, the outer side or face 81 of sealingbody 80 faces away from open end 60A and opposed inner side or face 81of sealing body 80 faces open end 60A and faces into reservoir 60.

Cap 70 is secured to open end 60A of reservoir 60 with fasteners as isknown in the art, which, in the present embodiment, are bolts 100. Bolts100 are conventional metal bolts that are preferably formed of steel,which is an electrically-conductive metal. Flange 85 is formed withspaced-apart bolt holes 101 that correspond or relate to bolt holesformed in open end 60A of reservoir 60. As a matter of illustration andreference, FIG. 5 shows two such bolt holes 61 formed in open end 60A ofreservoir 60. In the application of cap assembly 50 to open end 60A ofreservoir 60, bolt holes 101 of flange 85 are registered with bolt holes61 formed in open end 60A of reservoir 60. Bolts 100 are applied to boltholes 101 formed in flange 85 and are threaded into bolt holes 61 formedin open end 60A of reservoir 60 and are then tightened down throughrotation forcibly applying bolt heads 101A of bolts 100 against outerside or face 81 of cap 70 clamping down and securing cap 70 of capassembly in place to open end 60A as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 whilecompressing gasket 72 between cap 70 and open end 60A to reservoirforming the fluid impervious seal between cap 70 and open end 60A toreservoir 60. In the present embodiment there are eight bolt holes 61 inopen end 60A of reservoir 60, and there are eight corresponding boltholes 101 in flange 85 of cap 70.

With cap assembly 50 in place to open end 60A of reservoir 60 closingopen end 60A and with plug 73 installed in place in its closed positionclosing port 71, a volume 110 of a lubricating oil 111 is applied toreservoir 60 in the conventional manner, which prepares and readiestrack roller 31 for use in the normal manner in the operation of vehicle20 of FIG. 1. As cap 70 is transparent, sealing body 80 spanning openend 60A of reservoir 60 is transparent to provide visual accesstherethrough in the direction indicated by arrowed line A in FIG. 5 intoreservoir 60 through open end 60A for lubricating oil level and qualitymonitoring purposes, in accordance with the principle of the invention.

In the normal and customary operational position of track roller 31,reservoir 60 is horizontal in a direction of horizontal plane X inrelation to open end 60A, which is orthogonal or otherwise vertical withrespect to reservoir 60 in a direction of vertical plane Y, and thisorientation of reservoir 60 relative to open end 60A is clearly depictedin FIG. 5. In this orientation of reservoir 60 and open end 60A in whichreservoir 60 extends in a horizontal direction defined by horizontalplane X and open end 60A extends in a comparatively vertical directiondefined by vertical plane Y, cap 70 attached to open end 60A isvertically disposed or otherwise oriented in a direction of verticalplane Y such that sealing body 80 extends vertically upwardly in thedirection of vertical plane Y and across open end 60A to reservoir 60.The volume 110 of lubricating oil 111 applied to reservoir 60 partiallyfills reservoir 60 and extends vertically upwardly or upward intoreservoir 60 toward port 71 and plug 73 in the direction of arrowed lineB in FIG. 5 and along and in direct contact with or otherwise againstthe inner side or face 81 of sealing body 120 to a level 120 just belowport 71 and plug 73 sealing port 71 as is clearly illustrated in FIG. 5.Level 120 of volume 110 of lubricating oil 111 is a recommended oillevel, which is the oil level that ensures that there is a sufficientamount or volume of lubricating oil 111 in reservoir 60 to provide trackroller 31 with the necessary lubrication and heat-dissipation to ensurethat tracker roller 31 functions properly or otherwise in the customaryway. Because inner side or face 81 of cap 70 faces into volume 60 oftrack roller 31 and is in direct contact with volume 110 of lubricatingoil 111 filling reservoir 60 to level 120, inner side or face 81 of cap70 is considered to be a lubricating oil engaging side or face of cap70.

The recommended oil level 120 of volume 110 of lubricating oil 111ensures that track roller 31 is properly lubricated during operation asindicated above. Should volume 110 of lubricating oil 111 diminish orotherwise become at least partially depleted so as to fall below therecommended level denoted generally at 120 to a low oil level, such asthe low oil level denoted generally at 121 in FIG. 6, the diminished orpartially depleted volume 110 of lubricating oil 111 defining low oillevel 121 is defined as an oil level that is not sufficient to properlylubricate track roller 31, which could cause track roller to fail or tobecome damaged. When volume 110 of lubricating oil 111 falls fromrecommended oil level 120 to a low oil level, such as low oil level 121,volume 110 of lubricating oil 111 should be replenished to bring volume110 of lubricating oil 111 back recommended oil level 120 to ensuretrack roller 31 is properly lubricated. And so when volume 110 oflubricating oil 111 partially fills reservoir 60 to recommended oillevel 120, volume 110 of lubricating oil 111 applied to reservoir 60 issufficient to fill reservoir 60 to recommended oil level 120.Furthermore, when volume 110 of lubricating oil 111 partially fillsreservoir 60 to low oil level 121, volume 110 of lubricating oil 111applied to reservoir 60 is insufficient to fill reservoir 60 torecommended oil level 120.

According to the principle of the invention, sensor 74 of cap assembly50 forms a part of an oil level monitoring system for sensing thepresence of lubricating oil in response to sensor 74 touching volume 110of lubricating oil 111 in reservoir 60 when volume 110 of lubricatingoil 111 is sufficient to fill reservoir 60 to recommended oil level 120,for sensing the non-presence of lubricating oil in response to sensor 74not touching volume 110 of lubricating oil in reservoir 60 when volume110 of lubricating oil 111 is insufficient to fill reservoir 60 torecommended oil level 120, for issuing a stimulus in response to sensor74 sensing the presence of lubricating oil so as to identify a normal orrecommended lubricating oil level condition in reservoir 60 and alert anoperator of vehicle 20 of such a normal or recommended lubricating oillevel condition in reservoir 60, and for issuing a different stimulus inresponse to sensor 74 sensing the non-presence of lubricating oil so asto identify a low or un-recommended lubricating oil level condition inreservoir 60 and alert the operator of vehicle 20 of such a low orun-recommended lubricating oil level condition in reservoir 60 to promptthe operator to replenish the volume 110 of lubricating oil 111 inreservoir in order to bring it up to recommended oil level 120 toproduce a normal or recommended lubricating oil level condition inreservoir 60. The oil level monitoring system constructed and arrangedin accordance with the principle of the invention is incorporated invehicle 20 and in cap assembly 50 of track roller 31, and also in eachcap assembly 50 of each tracker roller of each of track assemblies30A-30D of vehicle. The specific details of system 150 will be discussedin connection with cap assembly 50 of track roller 31, with theunderstanding that the ensuing discussion of system 150 in connectionwith cap assembly 50 of track roller 31 applies to the cap assembly 50of each track roller of each of track assemblies 30A-30D of vehicle 20of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a highly generalized functional block diagram of an oil levelmonitoring system 150 constructed and arranged in accordance with theprinciple of the invention, which includes sensor 74 coupled in signalcommunication to a signal apparatus 151 through a Universal Serial Bus(USB) 156, and a power supply 154 electrically connected between vehiclesource power 155 and bus 156. In this embodiment, signal apparatus 151consists of a controller 152 and an operator display 153. System 150uses vehicle source power 155 in the present embodiment, which invehicle 20 is nominally 12 volts, but may be 6 volts or 24 voltsdepending on the type of tracked vehicle incorporating system 150. Inorder to use this vehicle source power 155, power supply 154 is used tomodify the voltage to a voltage compatible with system 150, which, inthe present example, is nominally 9 volts.

Sensor 74 is incorporated into, and forms a part of, cap assembly 50,and is located in reservoir 60 when cap assembly 50 is assembled andinstalled onto track roller 31 as shown in FIG. 6. Looking to FIGS. 5and 6, sensor 74 is applied to inner face 82 of cap 70, and is locatedat the geometric center of cap 70 at the region of port 71 and there itis attached to cap assembly 50 so as to be positioned or located totouch volume 110 of lubricating oil 111 when volume 110 of lubricatingoil 111 is sufficient to fill reservoir 60 to recommended oil level 120,and to not touch volume 110 of lubricating oil 111 when volume 110 oflubricating oil 111 is insufficient to fill reservoir 60 to recommendedoil level 120, such as when volume 110 of lubricating oil 111 fillsreservoir 60 to low oil level 121.

Looking in relevant part to FIGS. 3 and 6, sensor 74 is a conventionaland well-known portable touch sensor. Sensor 74 is adapted to beremovably coupled to cap assembly 50, and is therefore considered to bea cap assembly-attachable sensor. More specifically, sensor 74 isconfigured to be removably coupled to plug 73 of cap assembly 50, and istherefore considered more specifically to be a plug-attachable sensor,wherein plug 73 and sensor 74 together form a sensor-plug assembly inaccordance with the principle of the invention.

Sensor 74 is formed in the shape of a cylindrical body 130, which hasopposed inner and outer ends 131 and 132. A blind bore 133 is formed incylindrical body 130, which extends into cylindrical body 130 from innerend 131 and terminates at an end wall 134 within cylindrical body 130.Blind bore 133 is inwardly threaded and relates to outwardly threadedinner end 93 of plug 73 so as to be capable of being threaded onto innerend 93 of plug 73 to removably couple sensor 74 to plug 73. To removablyattach sensor 74 to plug 73, cylindrical body 130 is threaded onto innerend 93 of plug 73 by applying inner end 93 of plug 73 to blind bore 133and then rotating cylindrical body 130 so as to threadably secure andtighten outer end 93 of plug 73 into blind bore 133 and to draw andtighten inner end 131 of cylindrical body 130 against the area of innerface 82 of cap 70 that encircles port 71. Port 71 defines and encirclesa central axis 71′, about which plug 73 applied to port 71 issymmetrical and about which cylindrical body 130 of sensor 74 applied toinner end 93 of plug 73 is also symmetrical, which allows sensor 74 tointeract with the level of lubricating oil in reservoir 60 regardless ofthe rotational orientation of track roller 31.

In a particular embodiment, an adhesive denoted at 135 is appliedbetween inner end 131 of cylindrical body 130 of sensor 74 and innerface 82 of cap 70, which adhesively adheres cylindrical body 130 toinner face 82 of cap 70. This allows plug 73 to be threadably removedfrom port 71 and sensor 74 without sensor 74 detaching and falling awayfrom cap 71. If desired, sensor 74 may be initially adhesively appliedto cap 70 with blind bore 133 aligned with port 71 as shown in FIG. 6,after which plug 73 may be threaded into port 71 and into blind bore 133to secure plug 73 to port 71 and removably couple plug 73 to sensor 74.

Inwardly threaded blind bore 133 complements outwardly threaded innerend 93 of plug 73, which together form an engagement assembly thatremovably couples or attaches sensor 74 to plug 73. According to thisdisclosure, outwardly threaded inner end 93 of plug 73 is exemplary ofan engagement element of the engagement assembly removably couplingsensor 74 to plug 73, and inwardly threaded blind bore 133 is exemplaryof a complemental element of the engagement assembly removably couplingsensor 74 to plug 73. In alternate embodiments, other forms ofengagement assemblies may be formed between sensor 74 and plug 73 toremovably couple sensor 74 to plug 73 without departing from theinvention, such as a detent engagement pair, a key engagement pair, etc.

Sensor 74 and signal apparatus 151 are electrically connected throughbus 156 so as to be operatively coupled in signal communication. Bus 156is, in turn, electrically connected to power supply 154 that iselectrically connected to vehicle source power 155, and these electricalconnections are made conventionally according to conventional electricalwiring techniques with conventional electrical wiring incorporated intovehicle 20 or with the existing electrical wiring of vehicle 20.

Referencing FIG. 6, plug 73 is formed with a conductor structure denotedgenerally at 138 including opposed conductive tracks 140 and 141, whichare molded machined into plug 73. Conductive track 140 is formed ofcopper and is in the form of a circular disk formed in underside 92A ofhead 92 of plug 73 that is integral with conductive track 141 that isalso preferably formed of copper and that extends centrally throughthreaded post 90 from conductive member 140 formed in underside 92A ofhead 92 to a contact 142 that protrudes outwardly from the geometriccenter of inner end 93 of plug 73. Contact 142 contacts and mates with acorresponding electrical contact 143 formed in endwall 134 of sensor 74removably coupled to inner end 93 of plug 73, which electricallyconnects sensor 74 to conductor structure 138 formed in plug 73.

Conductive track 140 formed in underside 92A of plug 73 is applieddirectly against the outer side or face 81 of cap 70 and electricallycontacts conductive trace 76 formed in cap 70 when plug 73 is secured toport 71, which electrically connects conductive trace 76 to conductorstructure 138 formed in plug 73 and also sensor 74 electricallyconnected to conductor structure 138 of plug 73. Referencing FIGS. 3-6in relevant part, conductive trace 76 is formed on outer side or face 81of cap 70 between port 71 and one of the bolts holes 101 formed inflange 85, and this bolt hole is denoted at 101′ in FIGS. 3-5 forclarity. Conductive trace 76 is preferably formed of copper and consistsof an elongate conductive track 160 formed between a circular conductivetrack 161 that circumscribes the outer opening to port 71 and an opposedcircular conductive track 162 that circumscribes the outer opening tobolt hole 101′. Conductive track 140 formed in underside 92A of plug 73contacts circular conductive track 161 of conductive trace 76 when plug73 is secured to port 71, which electrically connects conductive trace76 to conductor structure 138 formed in plug 76 and to sensor 74 appliedto inner end 93 of plug 73.

In the installation of bolt 100 to bolt hole 101′, the head 101A of bolt100 is received directly against outer side or face 81 of cap andcircular conductive track 162 formed at bolt hole 101′, whichelectrically connects conductive trace 76 to bolt 100. The bolt hole 61aligned with bolt hole 101′ of cap 73 in FIG. 5 is denoted at 61′ forclarity, and is lined with a conductive liner 170 formed preferably ofcopper and which electrically connects bolt 100 when bolt 100 is appliedthrough bolt hole 101′ and is threaded into bolt hole 61′. Conductiveliner 170 is electrically connected to a conductive wire 171 formed intrack roller 31, and this wire 171 is, in turn, electrically connectedto bus 156 referenced in FIG. 7. And so conductive wire 171 electricallyconnects bus 156 to conductive liner 170 formed in bolt hole 61′,conductive liner 170 electrically connects bolt 100 applied to bolt hole61′ and bolt 100 applied to bolt hole 61′ electrically connectsconductive trace 76 at circular conductive track 162 relating to bolthole 101′, conductive track 140 of the conductor structure of plug 73applied to port 71 electrically connects conductive trace 76 at circularconductive track 161 relating to port 71, and conductive track 141 ofplug electrically connects sensor 74 applied to inner end 93 of plug 73.This described “hard” or “wired” electrical connecting architectureforms an electronic coupling between sensor 74 and bus 156 of system150, which is powered by power from power supply 154 that, in turn, ispowered by vehicle source power 155, in accordance with the principle ofthe invention.

Bus 156 operatively couples sensor 74 to signal apparatus 151 so as tocouple signal apparatus 151 in electrical and signal communication tosensor 74. In the operation of system 150 in reference in relevant partto FIGS. 6 and 7, sensor 74 of cap assembly 50 senses the presence oflubricating oil in response to sensor 74 touching volume 110 oflubricating oil 111 in reservoir 60 when volume 110 of lubricating oil111 is sufficient to fill reservoir 60 to recommended oil level 120, andsenses the non-presence of lubricating oil in response to sensor 74 nottouching volume 110 of lubricating oil in reservoir 60 when volume 110of lubricating oil 111 is insufficient to fill reservoir 60 torecommended oil level 120, such as when the oil level in reservoir 60falls out of contact with sensor, such as to low oil level 121 asdenoted in FIG. 6. In response to sensor 74 sensing the presence oflubricating oil, sensor 74 issues a normal-mode signal to signalapparatus 151 through bus 156. In response to receiving this normal-modesignal, signal apparatus 151 is responsive and issues a normal-modestimulus for identifying a normal lubricating oil level condition inreservoir 60 of track roller 31. The normal-mode stimulus foridentifying a normal lubricating oil level condition in reservoir 60 isdesigned to alert or inform an operator of vehicle 20 of such a normallubricating oil level condition in reservoir 60 to indicate to such anoperator that the track roller 31 has the recommended or sufficientvolume of lubricating oil to properly lubricate track roller 31. Inresponse to sensor 74 sensing the non-presence of lubricating oil,sensor 74 issues a low-mode signal to signal apparatus 151 through bus156. In response to receiving this low-mode signal, signal apparatus 151is responsive and issues a low-mode stimulus for identifying a lowlubricating oil level condition in reservoir 60 of track roller 31. Thelow-mode stimulus for identifying a low lubricating oil level conditionin reservoir 60 is designed to alert or inform an operator of vehicle 20of such a low lubricating oil level condition in reservoir 60 toindicate to such an operator that the track roller does not have therecommended or sufficient volume of lubricating oil to properlylubricate track roller 31.

Signal apparatus 151 is a vehicle attached unit in that it is attachedto vehicle 20 of FIG. 1 at a location so as to be readily accessible byan operator of vehicle 20. In vehicle 20, signal apparatus 151 isattached to the body of vehicle 20 below operator cab 21 so as to beviewable from outside of vehicle 20. This location for signal apparatus151 is set forth as a matter of illustration and reference, and it is tobe understood that signal apparatus 151 may be installed at otherlocations on vehicle 20 to permit it to be accessed by an operator ofvehicle 20. If desired, signal apparatus 151 can be installed insideoperator cab 21 of vehicle 20 to allow it to be easily accessed by anoperator operating vehicle from within operator cab 21.

Signal apparatus 151 includes a controller 152 and an operator display153 as referenced in FIG. 7. Operator display 153 is configured to issuenormal-mode and low-mode stimuli to alert or inform an operator ofvehicle 20 of normal and low lubricating oil conditions of track roller31 of track assembly 30A and also the track rollers of the other trackassemblies 30B, 30C, and 30D.

A pictorial representation of operator display 153 is shown in FIG. 8.Display 153 includes graphical representations of track assemblies30A-30D of vehicle 20, including graphical representation 30A′ of leftfront track assembly 30A of vehicle 20, graphical representation 30B′ ofright front track assembly 30B of vehicle 20, graphical representation30C′ of left rear track assembly 30C of vehicle 20, and graphicalrepresentation 30D′ of right rear track assembly 30D of vehicle 20.Display 153 is preferably an illuminated display, such as an instrumentcluster, and graphical representations 30A′-30D′ of display 153 areilluminated representations that relate to track assemblies 30A-30D ofvehicle 20. Graphical representations 30A′-30D′ visually represent thecorresponding track assemblies 30A-30D and include display elements thatgraphically and visually represent the layout and arrangement thecorresponding endless track 40 and track rollers 31-34 of the varioustrack assemblies 30A-30D. The display elements of each of the graphicalrepresentations 30A′-30D′ include endless track display element 40′corresponding to an endless track 40, a drive track roller displayelement 31′ corresponding to a drive track roller 31, a front idlertrack roller display element 32′ corresponding to a front idler trackroller 32, a rear idler track roller display element 33′ correspondingto a rear idler track roller 33, and minor idler track roller displayelements 34′ corresponding to minor idler track rollers 34, and theappearance and layout or arrangement of these display elementscorresponds to the appearance and to the layout or arrangement of theendless track and track rollers of the various track assemblies 30A-30B.This allows an operator to visually relate graphical representations30A′-30D′, and the various endless track and track roller displayelements, to the corresponding track assemblies 30A-30D, including thevarious endless tracks and track rollers thereof.

Display elements 31′, 32′, 33′, and 34′ of the various graphicalrepresentations 30A′, 30B′, 30C′, and 30D′ are each adapted to issue thenormal-mode stimulus for identifying a normal track roller lubricatingoil level condition, and the low-mode stimulus for identifying a lowtrack roller lubricating oil level condition. The normal-mode stimulusand the low-mode stimulus of each of display elements 31′, 32′, 33′ and34′ are lights in or of display elements 31′, 32′, 33′, and 34′. Thenormal-mode stimulus is a green light 200, and the low-mode stimulus isa red light 201, which is different from green light 200 to allow anoperator to visually distinguish green light 200 from red light 201.Green and red lights 200 and 201 are part of the illuminated display ofoperator display 153, and may, in a particular embodiment, consist ofLED lights including a green LED light for green light 200 and a red LEDlight for red light 201.

Sensor 74 of cap assembly 50 associated with drive track roller 31 ofvehicle 20 relates to drive track roller display element 31′ of operatordisplay 153 graphical representation 30A′ of drive track assembly 30A ofvehicle 20. Sensor 74 is encoded with a signature that assigns sensor 74to drive roller 31 of track assembly 30A of vehicle. The normal-mode andlow-mode signals issued by sensor 74 are, in turn, encoded with thesignature of sensor 74. Controller 152 of signal apparatus 151 iscoupled to sensor 74 through bus 156 to receive the normal-mode andlow-mode signals issued by sensor 74, and controller 152 is programmedto recognize the signature of the normal-mode and low-mode signalsissued from sensor 74, and trigger or activate the corresponding driveroller display element 31′ of graphical representation 30A′ of trackassembly 30A of vehicle 20 to issue the normal-mode stimulus from thenormal-mode signal of sensor 74 and to issue the low-mode stimulus fromthe low-mode signal of sensor 74.

In response to sensor 74 sensing the presence of lubricating oil, sensor74 issues its normal-mode signal to controller 152 through bus 156.Controller 152 is coupled to bus 156 to receive this normal-mode signalfrom sensor 74, which is encoded with the signature related to sensor74. In response to receiving the normal-mode signal from sensor 74,controller 152 processes the normal-mode signal, recognizes thenormal-mode signal and the encoded signature thereof corresponding todrive roller 31 of track assembly 30A of vehicle, and then triggersgreen light 200 of drive roller display element 31′ of graphicalrepresentation 30A′ related to track assembly 30A of vehicle 20. Thetriggering of green light 200 causes green light 200 to illuminate greenlight, which is a state of illumination and which constitutes thenormal-mode stimulus and which is designed to indicate a normallubricating oil level condition in reservoir 60 of drive roller 31 oftrack assembly 30A of vehicle 20, in accordance with the principle ofthe invention. As long as sensor 74 senses the presence of lubricatingoil, it persistently issues the normal-mode signal causing controller152 to persistently trigger display element 31′ to illuminate greenlight 200. In other words, green light 200 remains illuminated as longas sensor 74 senses the presence of lubricating oil, which alerts orinform an operator of vehicle 20 of such a normal lubricating oil levelcondition in reservoir 60 of drive track roller 31 to indicate to suchan operator that the track roller 31 has the recommended or sufficientvolume of lubricating oil to properly lubricate track roller 31. Shouldsensor 74 stop issuing its normal-mode signal, controller 152 isresponsive and deactivates green light 200 of drive track roller displayelement 31′ of graphical representation 30A′ thereby deactivating thenormal-mode stimulus related to drive track roller display element 31′.In response to sensor 74 sensing the non-presence of lubricating oil,sensor 74 issues its low-mode signal to controller 152 through bus 156.Controller 152 is coupled to bus 156 to receive this low-mode signalfrom sensor 74, which is encoded with the signature related to sensor74.

In response to receiving the low-mode signal from sensor 74, controller152 processes the low-mode signal, recognizes the low-mode signal andthe encoded signature thereof corresponding to drive roller 31 of trackassembly 30A of vehicle, and then triggers red light 201 of drive rollerdisplay element 31′ of graphical representation 30A′ related to trackassembly 30A of vehicle 20. The triggering of red light 201 causes redlight 201 to illuminate red light, which is a state of illumination thatis different from normal-mode stimulus state of illumination and whichconstitutes the low-mode stimulus and which is designed to indicate alow lubricating oil level condition in reservoir 60 of drive roller 31of track assembly 30A of vehicle 20, in accordance with the principle ofthe invention. As long as sensor 74 senses the non-presence oflubricating oil, it persistently issues the low-mode signal causingcontroller 152 to persistently trigger display element 31′ to illuminatered light 201. In other words, red light 201 remains illuminated as longas sensor 74 senses the non-presence of lubricating oil, which alerts orinform an operator of vehicle 20 of such a low lubricating oil levelcondition in reservoir 60 of drive track roller 31 to indicate to suchan operator that the track roller 31 does not have the recommended orsufficient volume of lubricating oil to properly lubricate track roller31. Should sensor 74 stop issuing its low-mode signal, controller 152 isresponsive and deactivates red light 201 of drive track roller displayelement 31′ of graphical representation 30A′ thereby deactivating thelow-mode stimulus related to drive track roller display element 31′.

The process of system 150 described above in connection with capassembly 50 and drive track roller 31 of sensor 74 issuing the encodednormal-mode and low-mode signals from sensor 74 and signal apparatusreceiving and triggering normal-mode and low-mode stimuli of thecorresponding display element of operator display 153 in conjunctionwith cap assembly 50 of drive track roller 31 applies in every respectto each of the cap assemblies of each of the track rollers of each oftrack assemblies 30A-30D of vehicle 20. And so simply by looking atoperator display 153, an operator can be quickly visually informed ofthe oil level conditions of the various track rollers of the varioustrack assemblies 30A-30D of vehicle 20 and quickly identify which of thevarious track rollers have a normal lubricating oil level condition andwhich of the various track rollers have a low lubricating oil levelcondition. To ensure the oil level readings by the various sensors ofthe cap assemblies of the various track rollers are accurate, it is tobe noted that vehicle 20 should be resting on level or near levelground. In the present embodiment, operator display 153 is appliedexteriorly to chassis 22 of vehicle 20 under operator cab 21 so as to beaccessible for viewing by an operator from outside vehicle 20, such asby an operator standing on the ground beside vehicle 20. Operatordisplay 153 can be located elsewhere for convenient viewing, includinginside operator cab 21, if so desired. Moreover, operator display 153can, in a particular embodiment, be incorporated into a wireless device,such as a tablet computer or other wireless device or internetappliance, and wirelessly coupled in a conventional manner to controller152 so as to wirelessly receive sensor signals. In yet anotherembodiment, signal apparatus 151 may, as a whole, be formed as awireless device wireless coupled to serial bus 156 so as to wirelessreceive sensor signals.

In the discussion of system 150 above in connection with cap assembly 50of drive track roller 31, there is a “hard” or “wired” electricalconnecting architecture that electrically connects sensor 74 to bus 156.In an alternate embodiment, this “hard” or “wired” electrical connectingarchitecture between sensor 74 and bus 156 can be replaced by a wirelesscoupling provided by a transmitter wirelessly coupled to a receivercoupled between sensor 74 and bus 156. To illustrate this, FIG. 9 is ahighly generalized block diagram of an alternate embodiment of an oillevel monitoring system 220 constructed and arranged in accordance withthe principle of the invention. In common with system 150, system 220shares sensor 74, signal apparatus 151, including operator display 153and controller 152, electrically connected to bus 156, and power supply154 electrically connected between vehicle source power 155 and bus 156.In system 220, a wireless transmitter 221 is electrically connected tosensor 74, a corresponding wireless receiver 222 is electricallyconnected to bus 156, and transmitter 221 is wireless coupled in signalcommunication to receiver 222. In system 220, transmitter 221 wirelesslytransmits normal-mode and low-mode signals from sensor 74 to receiver222, which, in turn, relays the normal-mode and low-mode signals tosignal apparatus 151 through bus 156 for processing in the mannerdescribed above in connection with system 150.

The implementation of the transmitter 221 and the receiver 222 of system220 is implemented in a cap assembly as shown in FIGS. 10-12 and whichis denoted by the reference character 50′. In common with cap assembly50 discussed above, cap assembly 50′ is identical in every respect andshares cap 70 formed with port 71 that extends through sealing body 80from outer side or face 81 to inner side or face 82, plug 73 used toopen and closed port 71, and sensor 74. Like cap assembly 50, plug 73 ofcap assembly 50′ includes threaded post 90, outer end or extremity 91including head 92, inner end 93 that removably couples sensor 74, andalso gasket 95. In cap assembly 50′, transmitter 221 is attached toouter end or extremity 91 of plug 73 and is operatively coupled tosensor 74 applied to inner end 93 of plug 73.

As discussed above in connection with system 150, sensor 74 is forsensing the presence of lubricating oil in response to sensor 74touching volume 110 of lubricating oil 11 in lubricating oil reservoir60 as shown in FIG. 10 when volume 110 of lubricating oil 111 issufficient to fill reservoir 60 to recommended oil level 120, and forsensing the non-presence of lubricating oil in response to sensor 74 nottouching volume 110 of lubricating oil 11 in reservoir 60 when volume110 of lubricating oil 11 is insufficient to fill reservoir 60 torecommended oil level 120, such as when volume 110 of lubricating oil111 fills reservoir 60 to low oil level 121. Transmitter 221 isoperatively coupled to sensor 74 to receive normal-mode and low-modesignals from sensor 74. In response to sensor 74 sensing the presence oflubricating oil, sensor 74 issues its normal-mode signal to transmitter221, which receives the normal-mode signal and wirelessly transmits thenormal-mode signal to receiver 222 and which, in turn, receives thenormal-mode signal from transmitter 221 and in response thereto relaysthe normal-mode signal to signal apparatus 151 through bus 156 forprocessing the normal-mode signal for triggering signal apparatus 151 toissue the resulting normal-mode stimulus issued through operator display153 for identifying a normal lubricating oil level condition. Inresponse to sensor 74 sensing the non-presence of lubricating oil,sensor 74 issues its low-mode signal to transmitter 221, which receivesthe low-mode signal and wirelessly transmits the low-mode signal toreceiver 222 and which, in turn, receives the low-mode signal fromtransmitter 221 and in response thereto relays the low-mode signal tosignal apparatus 151 through bus 156 for processing the low-mode signalfor triggering signal apparatus 151 to issue the resulting low-modestimulus issued through operator display 153 for identifying a lowlubricating oil level condition.

Transmitter 221 is a conventional radio-frequency transmitter, andreceiver 222 is a conventional radio-frequency receiver. Transmitter 221is adapted to be removably coupled to cap assembly 50′, and is thereforeconsidered to be a cap assembly-attachable transmitter. Morespecifically, transmitter 221 is configured to be removably coupled toplug 73 of cap assembly 50′, and is therefore considered morespecifically to be a plug-attachable transmitter, wherein plug 73 andtransmitter 221 together form a transmitter-plug assembly in accordancewith the principle of the invention.

In this embodiment, transmitter 220 is formed in the shape of acylindrical body 230, which has opposed inner and outer ends 231 and232. A blind bore 233 is formed in cylindrical body 230, which extendsinto cylindrical body 230 from inner end 231 and terminates at an endwall 234 within cylindrical body 230. Blind bore 233 is inwardlythreaded and relates to an outwardly threaded location spigot 240 formedin head 92 of outer end or extremity 91 of plug 73 so as to be capableof being threaded onto location spigot 240 of outer end or extremity 91of plug 73 to removably couple transmitter 221 to plug 73. To removablyattach transmitter 221 to plug 73, cylindrical body 230 is threaded ontolocation spigot 240 of outer end or extremity 91 of plug 73 by applyinglocation spigot 240 of plug 73 to blind bore 233 and then rotatingcylindrical body 230 so as to threadably secure and tighten locationspigot 240 of plug 73 into blind bore 233 and to draw and tighten innerend 231 of cylindrical body 230 against head 92 of outer end orextremity 91 of plug 73 so as to locate transmitter 221 alongside theouter side or face 81 of cap 70.

Inwardly threaded blind bore 233 complements outwardly threaded locationspigot 230 of outer extremity 91 of plug 73, which together form anengagement assembly that removably couples or attaches transmitter 221to plug 73. According to this disclosure, outwardly threaded locationspigot 240 of plug 73 is exemplary of an engagement element of theengagement assembly removably coupling transmitter 221 to plug 73, andinwardly threaded blind bore 233 is exemplary of a complemental elementof the engagement assembly removably coupling transmitter 221 to plug73. In alternate embodiments, other forms of engagement assemblies maybe formed between transmitter 221 and plug 73 to removably coupletransmitter 221 to plug 73 without departing from the invention, such asa detent engagement pair, a key engagement pair, etc.

Plug 73 of cap assembly 50′ is formed with a conductor structure denotedgenerally at 250, which operatively couples sensor 74 to transmitter221. The operative coupling between sensor 74 and transmitter 21 is anelectrical coupling and a signal communication coupling such thattransmitter 221 is coupled to receive the normal-mode and low-modesignals from sensor 74. Conductor structure 250 is a conductive track orwire 251 that is formed of copper and that extends centrally throughplug 73 from an outer contact 252 that protrudes outwardly from thegeometric center of location spigot 240, to an inner contact 253 thatprotrudes outwardly from the geometric center of inner end 93 of plug73. Outer contact 252 contacts and mates with a corresponding electricalcontact 260 formed in endwall 234 of transmitter 221 removably coupledto location spigot 240 of outer end or extremity 91 of plug 73 and thiselectrically connects transmitter 221 to conductor structure 250 formedin plug 73, and inner contact 253 contacts and mates with electricalcontact 143 formed in endwall 134 of sensor 74 removably coupled toinner end 93 of plug 73 and this electrically connects sensor 74 toconductor structure 138 formed in plug 73, whereby conductor structure250 electrically connects sensor 74 to transmitter 221 and couplessensor 74 in signal communication to transmitter 221, whichcharacterizes the operative coupling of sensor 74 to transmitter 221.Transmitter 221 is formed with an internal battery 270, which iselectrically connected to contact 260 formed in transmitter 221 withwiring 271 formed in transmitter 221 between battery 270 and contact260. Battery 270 is a 9-volt battery in the present embodiment, whichpowers transmitter 221 and which powers sensor 74 via the electricalconnection between sensor 74 and transmitter 221. The assemblage sensor74 and transmitter 221 onto plug 73 energizes both sensor 74 and 221with electric power from battery 270, and operatively couplestransmitter 221 to sensor 74 to receive normal-mode and low-mode signalsfrom sensor 74. Again, in response to sensor 74 sensing the presence oflubricating oil, sensor 74 issues its normal-mode signal to transmitter221 via conductor structure 250 formed in plug 73, which transmitter 221receives the normal-mode signal and wirelessly transmits the normal-modesignal to receiver 222 and which, in turn, receives the normal-modesignal from transmitter 221 and in response thereto relays thenormal-mode signal to signal apparatus 151 through bus 156 forprocessing the normal-mode signal for triggering signal apparatus 151 toissue the resulting normal-mode stimulus issued through operator display153 for identifying a normal lubricating oil level condition. And again,in response to sensor 74 sensing the non-presence of lubricating oil,sensor 74 issues its low-mode signal to transmitter 221 via conductorstructure 250 formed in plug 73, which transmitter 221 receives thelow-mode signal and wirelessly transmits the low-mode signal to receiver222 and which, in turn, receives the low-mode signal from transmitter221 and in response thereto relays the low-mode signal to signalapparatus 151 through bus 156 for processing the low-mode signal fortriggering signal apparatus 151 to issue the resulting low-mode stimulusissued through operator display 153 for identifying a low lubricatingoil level condition.

Receiver 222 is conventionally wired to bus 156 with electrical wiringformed in vehicle 20, and is mounted to vehicle 20 at any desiredlocation so as to promote a competent wireless coupling betweentransmitter 221 (not shown in FIG. 1) and receiver 222. As a matter ofexample, in FIG. 1 receiver 222 is shown as it would appear attached tothe top of operator cab 21 of vehicle 20, and while this location isoptimum and suitable for facilitating a competent wireless couplingbetween transmitter 221 and receiver 222, receiver 222 can be mounted atother locations along vehicle 20 as may be desired.

The various cap assemblies incorporated with the various track rollersof the various track assemblies 30A-30D may each be either cap assembly50 related to system 150, or cap assembly 50′ related to system 220 asboth cap assembly iterations function identically with respect to signalapparatus 151 with the exception the sensor 74 of cap assembly 50 isoperatively coupled to signal apparatus 151 with a “hard” or “wired”electrical connecting architecture formed between sensor 74 and signalapparatus 151 as described above, and that sensor 74 of cap assembly 50′is operatively coupled to signal apparatus 151 with a wirelessconnection/coupling facilitated by transmitter 221 and receiver 222wirelessly coupling receiver 74 to signal apparatus 151.

The various embodiments of the invention herein specifically disclosedare discussed in connection with a lubricating oil reservoir of a rollerof a tracked vehicle for maintaining a volume of lubricating oil forproviding machine lubrication to the roller. Consistent with theteachings of the invention set forth throughout this specification, itis to be understood that the various embodiments of the invention may becarried out in connection with other forms of lubricating oil reservoirsthat maintains a volume of a lubricating oil for providing machinelubrication, e.g., for providing machine lubrication to a pistonassembly or other reciprocating mechanism, a pinion or other rotarymechanism, a differential or other gear assembly, etc.

In cap assemblies 50 and 50′, sensor 74 is formed in the shape ofcylindrical body 130 having opposed inner and outer ends 131 and 132 anda blind bore 133 that extends into cylindrical body 130 from inner end131 and which terminates at end wall 134 within cylindrical body 130. Asshown and described herein, blind bore 133 is inwardly threaded andrelates to outwardly threaded inner end 93 of plug 73 so as to becapable of being threaded onto inner end 93 of plug 73 to removablycouple sensor 74 to plug 73 so as to form a sensor-plug assembly. Aspreviously described, to removably attach sensor 74 to plug 73,cylindrical body 130 is threaded onto inner end 93 of plug 73 byapplying inner end 93 of plug 73 to blind bore 133 and then rotatingcylindrical body 130 so as to threadably secure and tighten outer end 93of plug 73 into blind bore 133 and to draw and tighten inner end 131 ofcylindrical body 130 against the area of inner face 82 of cap 70 thatencircles port 71. In cap assembly 50, conductive track 141 extendscentrally through threaded post 90 to contact 143 that protrudesoutwardly from the geometric center of inner end 93 of plug 73, andwhich contacts and mates with corresponding electrical contact 143formed in endwall 134 of sensor 74 removably coupled to inner end 93 ofplug 73, which electrically connects sensor 74 to conductor structure138 formed in plug 73. In cap assembly 50′, conductive track 251 extendscentrally through threaded post 90 to contact 253 that protrudesoutwardly from the geometric center of inner end 93 of plug 73, andwhich contacts and mates with corresponding electrical contact 143formed in endwall 134 of sensor 74 removably coupled to inner end 93 ofplug 73, which electrically connects sensor 74 to conductor structure250 formed in plug 73. In both cap assemblies 50 and 50′, adhesivedenoted at 135 is applied between inner end 131 of cylindrical body 130of sensor 74 and inner face 82 of cap 70, which adhesively adherescylindrical body 130 to inner face 82 of cap 70. Again, this allows plug73 to be threadably removed from port 71 and sensor 74 without sensor 74detaching and falling away from cap 71, and sensor 74 may be initiallyadhesively applied to cap 70 with blind bore 133 aligned with port 71 asshown in FIG. 6, after which plug 73 may be threaded into port 71 andinto blind bore 133 to secure plug 73 to port 71 and removably coupleplug 73 to sensor 74.

FIG. 13 is a highly generalized vertical section view of an alternateembodiment of a sensor-plug assembly of an attachable cap assemblyconstructed and arranged in accordance with the principle of theinvention that may be used in cap assembly 50 and in cap assembly 50′,if so desired. In FIG. 13, sensor 74 is formed in the shape ofcylindrical body 130 having opposed inner and outer ends 131 and 132 andbore 133A that extends through cylindrical body 130 from inner end 131to outer end 132. There is no endwall formed in outer end 132, and soouter end 132 is open and bore 133A is not blind. Bore 133A is inwardlythreaded and relates to outwardly threaded inner end 93 of threaded post90 of plug 73 so as to be capable of being threaded onto inner end 93 ofplug 73 to removably couple sensor 74 to plug 73 so as to form thesensor-plug assembly embodiment depicted in FIG. 13. To removably attachsensor 74 to plug 73, cylindrical body 130 is threaded onto inner end 93of plug 73 by applying inner end 93 of plug 73 to bore 133A and thenrotating cylindrical body 130 so as to threadably secure and tightenouter end 93 of plug 73 into bore 133A and to draw and tighten inner end131 of cylindrical body 130 against the area of inner face 82 of cap 70that encircles port 71.

In FIG. 13, the conductive track 141 of cap assembly 50 and theconductive track 151 of cap assembly 50′ is replaced with conductivetrack 260. Conductive track 260 extends through threaded post 90 and isout-turned to a contact 261 at the outer or outward threads of threadedpost 90 near inner end 93 of threaded post 90, and which contacts andmates with a corresponding annular electrical contact 143A formed at thethreads of threaded bore 133A of sensor 74 removably coupled viathreading to inner end 93 of plug 73, which electrically connects sensor74 to conductor structure 260 formed in plug 73. Adhesive denoted at 135is applied between inner end 131 of cylindrical body 130 of sensor 74and inner face 82 of cap 70, which adhesively adheres cylindrical body130 to inner face 82 of cap 70 in the embodiment of FIG. 13, and thisallows plug 73 to be threadably removed from port 71 and sensor 74without sensor 74 detaching and falling away from cap 71, and sensor 74may be initially adhesively applied to cap 70 with bore 133 aligned withport 71 if so desired, after which plug 73 may be threaded into port 71and into bore 133A to secure plug 73 to port 71 and removably coupleplug 73 to sensor 74 in the embodiment of FIG. 13. Because outer end 132is open in the embodiment of FIG. 13, bore 133A is open to bore 133A isopen to reservoir 60. As such, with sensor 74 adhesively adhered toinner face 82 of cap 70 in the embodiment of FIG. 13, reservoir 60 maybe serviced in the form of lubricating oil replenishment or adjustmentthrough port 71 and bore 133A when plug 73 is removed from port 71 andsensor 74.

The present invention is described above with reference to preferredembodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges and modifications may be made in the described embodimentswithout departing from the nature and scope of the present invention.Various further changes and modifications to the embodiments hereinchosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilledin the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do notdepart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to beincluded within the scope thereof.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms asto enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same,the invention claimed is:

The invention claimed is:
 1. Apparatus, comprising: a signal apparatus;a lubricating oil reservoir includes an open end closed by a capremovably coupled to the open end; the cap includes an outer side and anopposed lubricating oil engaging side facing into the lubricating oilreservoir, a maintenance port that extends through the cap from theouter side to the lubricating oil engaging side, a sensor positioned inthe lubricating oil reservoir, and a plug threaded to the maintenanceport so as to close the maintenance port; the plug includes an inner endadjacent to the lubricating oil engaging side of the cap, an outer endadjacent to the outer side of the cap, a wireless transmitter carried bythe outer end, and a conductor structure, the conductor structureoperatively couples the sensor to the wireless transmitter; thelubricating oil reservoir for holding a volume of lubricating oil forproviding machine lubrication, which said volume of lubricating oil isto extend vertically upward into the lubricating oil reservoir in adirection toward the sensor and along and in direct contact with thelubricating oil engaging side of the cap so as to touch the sensor whenthe volume of lubricating oil is sufficient to fill the lubricating oilreservoir to a recommended oil level, and so as to not touch the sensorwhen the volume of lubricating oil is insufficient to fill thelubricating oil reservoir to the recommended oil level; the sensor forsensing the presence of lubricating oil when the sensor touches thevolume of lubricating oil in the lubricating oil reservoir when thevolume of lubricating oil is sufficient to fill the lubricating oilreservoir to the recommended oil level, and for sensing the non-presenceof lubricating oil when the sensor does not touch the volume oflubricating oil in the lubricating oil reservoir when the volume oflubricating oil is insufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir tothe recommended oil level; the wireless transmitter for transmitting afirst wireless signal when the sensor senses the presence of lubricatingoil, and for transmitting a second wireless signal when the sensorsenses the non-presence of lubricating oil; the signal apparatus forissuing a first stimulus in response to first wireless signal, and forissuing a second stimulus in response to the second wireless signal; thefirst stimulus is for identifying a normal lubricating oil levelcondition; and the second stimulus is different from the first stimulusand is for identifying a low oil level condition.
 2. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the sensor is threaded to the inner end ofthe plug.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sensorincludes: an inner end; an outer end; a bore, the bore extends throughthe sensor from the inner end to the outer end, and is formed with asensor contact; the inner end of the plug is threaded to the borethrough the inner end of the sensor; and the sensor is electricallyconnected to the conductor structure via the sensor contact.
 4. Theapparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sensor is adhesively adheredto the lubricating oil engaging side of the cap.
 5. The apparatusaccording to claim 4, wherein the wireless transmitter is threaded tothe outer end of the plug.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5,wherein the outer end of the plug is formed with a location spigot, andthe wireless transmitter is threaded to the location spigot.
 7. Theapparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a battery forpowering the sensor and the wireless transmitter.
 8. The apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein the battery is formed with thetransmitter.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein theconductor structure electrically connects the sensor to the battery. 10.The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal apparatus is anilluminated display for issuing a first state of illumination being thefirst stimulus, and a second different state of illumination being thesecond stimulus.
 11. Apparatus, comprising: a signal apparatus; alubricating oil reservoir includes an open end closed by a cap removablycoupled to the open end; the cap includes an outer side and an opposedlubricating oil engaging side facing into the lubricating oil reservoir,a maintenance port that extends through the cap from the outer side tothe lubricating oil engaging side, a sensor positioned in thelubricating oil reservoir, and a plug threaded to the maintenance portso as to close the maintenance port; the plug includes an inner endadjacent to the lubricating oil engaging side of the cap, an outer endadjacent to the outer side of the cap, a wireless transmitter carried bythe outer end, and a conductor structure, the conductor structureoperatively couples the sensor to the wireless transmitter; theconductor structure includes a conductive track, the conductive trackextends through the plug from an inner contact proximate to the innerend of the plug to an outer contact proximate to the outer end of theplug; the sensor is electrically connected to the conductive track viathe inner contact; the wireless transmitter is electrically connected tothe conductive track via the outer contact; the lubricating oilreservoir for holding a volume of lubricating oil for providing machinelubrication, which said volume of lubricating oil is to extendvertically upward into the lubricating oil reservoir in a directiontoward the sensor and along and in direct contact with the lubricatingoil engaging side of the cap so as to touch the sensor when the volumeof lubricating oil is sufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoirto a recommended oil level, and so as to not touch the sensor when thevolume of lubricating oil is insufficient to fill the lubricating oilreservoir to the recommended oil level; the sensor for sensing thepresence of lubricating oil when the sensor touches the volume oflubricating oil in the lubricating oil reservoir when the volume oflubricating oil is sufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir tothe recommended oil level, and for sensing the non-presence oflubricating oil when the sensor does not touch the volume of lubricatingoil in the lubricating oil reservoir when the volume of lubricating oilis insufficient to fill the lubricating oil reservoir to the recommendedoil level; the wireless transmitter for transmitting a first wirelesssignal when the sensor senses the presence of lubricating oil, and fortransmitting a second wireless signal when the sensor senses thenon-presence of lubricating oil; the signal apparatus for issuing afirst stimulus in response to first wireless signal, and for issuing asecond stimulus in response to the second wireless signal; the firststimulus is for identifying a normal lubricating oil level condition;and the second stimulus is different from the first stimulus and is foridentifying a low oil level condition.
 12. The apparatus according toclaim 11, wherein the sensor is threaded to the inner end of the plug.13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the sensor includes: aninner end; an outer end; a bore, the bore extends through the sensorfrom the inner end to the outer end, and is formed with a sensorcontact; the inner end of the plug is threaded to the bore through theinner end of the sensor; and the sensor is electrically connected to theconductor structure via the sensor contact.
 14. The apparatus accordingto claim 13, wherein the sensor is adhesively adhered to the lubricatingoil engaging side of the cap.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 14,wherein the wireless transmitter is threaded to the outer end of theplug.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the outer end ofthe plug is formed with a location spigot, and the wireless transmitteris threaded to the location spigot.
 17. The apparatus according to claim16, further comprising a battery for powering the sensor and thewireless transmitter.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 17, whereinthe battery is formed with the transmitter.
 19. The apparatus accordingto claim 18, wherein the conductor structure electrically connects thesensor to the battery.
 20. The apparatus according to claim 11, whereinthe signal apparatus is an illuminated display for issuing a first stateof illumination being the first stimulus, and a second different stateof illumination being the second stimulus.